0
Curse:
An 18 (ish) year old girl wearing a short puffy white dress with 80's hair came up to me mid set at Favela last Friday and requested Potbelleez - Junkyard. I was an hour into a progressive set with the place absolutely packed to the rafters, dancefloor extended all the way to the back steps, and not an inkling of a commercial track.
When I politely said I wouldn't play that track tonight, she then proceeded to rattle off every track off Ministry of Sound, asking if I'd play it. She offloaded a really negative vibe onto me and then dissapeared into the crowd.
This is far from the first time something like this has happenned.
What is really frustrating is that half the tracks she asked for are exactly the tracks that I was playing a year ago, but nobody wanted to hear them, because they didn't know them. It seems like an endless cycle.
The kids are into whatever they heard on their 'latest' compilation and nothing else. Tracks from said compilation are actually a retrospective of tracks released - some well over a year old. By the time the punters like them, I'm well over them.
How do you combat this? It seems most Sydney DJ's these days just cave in and play fucking cheeeeeesey sets. This makes it even worse, cause the punters just go 'but I heard (insert popular Sydney DJ name here) play it at (insert popular Sydney club name here) last night"!! Faaaaaark.
If all DJ's united and refused to play the shit, surely the crowds would come round?
Blessing:
I remember in the early days, House music was a fringe genre. You'd get requests for Chisel when playing, and people would say 'Have you got anything besides that Techno shit'?
Ministry of Sound really was almost single handedly responsible for bringing House music to the masses. Check out Summer Annual 2000. What a fucking couple of shit hot CD's they were. Wamdue Project, Love Tattoo, Johnny Corporate, Loverush. Awesome, massive tunes.
I remember how good it was when regular punters actually started requesting decent tunes. I couldn't beleive that people were actually starting to open up to dance music.
So you see my dilemma do I love Ministry of Sound for what it was, or hate it for what it is?
Or do I just hate the fashion driven Sydney punters?
At least I'm one of the lucky few that has a weekly residency where I don't play ANY of that shit 8)
Back to top
#2
Posted 21 August 2007 - 04:10 PM
-
- Members
-
- 1,179 posts
SoundPunk Veteran
Or did you cop a couple of requests and let that affect you completely out of proportion to the success you were enjoying from the far majority?
It's like eating the best steak in your life but there's a fly buzzing in the room. Sure, it's gonna shit you - but really the task at hand far outweighs the negative.
Perspective.
It's like eating the best steak in your life but there's a fly buzzing in the room. Sure, it's gonna shit you - but really the task at hand far outweighs the negative.
Perspective.
#3
Posted 21 August 2007 - 04:28 PM
-
- Members
-
- 75 posts
Local
Nah, not at all. I played commercial 'request' type rooms for years, and I know that the skills I learnt in those residencys are the most valuable.
You are correct, it's about perspective exactly. A 'bad' day at work for me, is still playing music to people, and I fully understand how lucky I am to be doing that. I have had thoroughly enjoyable gigs playing commercial rooms.
I guess the thing is that, in our city, it seems to be almost all there is. When you finally do get to play a quality gig, it's really frustrating that some people can't listen, look around and see what's going on before they come up and request 'Mickey Slim'.
I just don't understand the, "I have to make a request, no matter what it is" mentality, and to be honest it annoys me.
But I guess the point of making this post wasn't really to disect my own personal view point as much as it was to hear others - so I'll leave it there.
You are correct, it's about perspective exactly. A 'bad' day at work for me, is still playing music to people, and I fully understand how lucky I am to be doing that. I have had thoroughly enjoyable gigs playing commercial rooms.
I guess the thing is that, in our city, it seems to be almost all there is. When you finally do get to play a quality gig, it's really frustrating that some people can't listen, look around and see what's going on before they come up and request 'Mickey Slim'.
I just don't understand the, "I have to make a request, no matter what it is" mentality, and to be honest it annoys me.
But I guess the point of making this post wasn't really to disect my own personal view point as much as it was to hear others - so I'll leave it there.
#4
Posted 21 August 2007 - 04:33 PM
-
- Members
-
- 1,179 posts
SoundPunk Veteran
Welcome aboard ant 
So yeah - I run a night here in Melb. Similar kind of deal mate. Week in, week out - there's always a ready supply of vapid bimbos and bimbettes to come up - muscle through a crowd of happily dancing punters to do so mind you - to ask 'YOU GOT ANY R&B?'......
I heard there's some hole in the ground up Ballarat way that they keep crawling out of.
So yeah - I run a night here in Melb. Similar kind of deal mate. Week in, week out - there's always a ready supply of vapid bimbos and bimbettes to come up - muscle through a crowd of happily dancing punters to do so mind you - to ask 'YOU GOT ANY R&B?'......
I heard there's some hole in the ground up Ballarat way that they keep crawling out of.
#5
Posted 21 August 2007 - 06:58 PM
-
- Global Moderators
-
- 2,212 posts
Sound Cunt Extraordinaire
- LocationInside the Anus of a Flying Walrus
^Nah. They breed them in Newcastle as well. Maybe they're starting to cross populate and enhance the gene??
Anyway, i also did a run of the commercial and non commercial stuff. I know i generally present as a total cunt on the forums... but i do recall having a knack for turning a 'request denied' into a joke, and both leaving none the worse for it. Besides, i liked the fact all the pretty girls thought flirting with me earned them a request. Their reactions at the 'request denied' were pricelss, and i derove a sick pleasure from pointing them back where they came with a smile on their faces despite the fact they'd failed. It's not that hard a job tricking a bimbo into thinking she's getting something... when she's not
Anyway, i also did a run of the commercial and non commercial stuff. I know i generally present as a total cunt on the forums... but i do recall having a knack for turning a 'request denied' into a joke, and both leaving none the worse for it. Besides, i liked the fact all the pretty girls thought flirting with me earned them a request. Their reactions at the 'request denied' were pricelss, and i derove a sick pleasure from pointing them back where they came with a smile on their faces despite the fact they'd failed. It's not that hard a job tricking a bimbo into thinking she's getting something... when she's not
#6
Guest_Donnie Darko_*
Posted 21 August 2007 - 08:04 PM
Guest_Donnie Darko_*
-
- Guests
ant, the only consolation i have for you mate is the times they are a changin... (ironic i should quote a song from the 60s eh )
but seriously... there was a time.. when MTV and Ministry Of Sound were leaders of cool... (in order)
and ultimately i believe it was because at the time, television was the fastest form of media we had...
these were the days of the x generation, where we were still told what was cool, and big companies would get something underground... like skateboarding... slap a sony phone in tony hawks hands.. and whammo he was cool... and maybe i can be cool too! arguably this has been around for years n years but the x generation imo is the end of this vicious cycle of vanity
now we have a new form teh internets
blogs are a reliable and feared measure of cool and news the world over, coroporations annually now spend billions trying to get press packs ready for sites like www.gizmodo.com ... a news story cracks i can get it on a blog from south east turkmenistan via google news instantly on my mobile phone... with tv i have till wait till 5'oclock and even then its only one opinion/side/stance and i cant research further.
tv is old, slow and dead. same for magazines. same for cds.
keep the pace or fall behind.
the internet is now breeding what many statisticians refer to as the y generation, and i easily and proudly identify myself with this genus. were notoriously bad news for marketers, because we dont buy into hype like the x gen, if a new phone comes out we read reviews online for a couple hours, ask friends online, look at photos etc, before making a decision, and then we check sale price checks like www.staticice.com for the cheapest price or even ebay, this is annoying the fuck out of the large department stores like david jones etc, where the only good service they can deliver now is a respectable warranty. gen y is a legitamate theory being taught and lectured on globally at various business schools, and the news is stay clear, keep to young children who still dont know better or the older gens, theres been a lot of interesting news stories on gen y lately
and in regard to this conversation, the y generation is better musically trained. fear not ant, for those dumb blondes asking for last years polycarbonate disc (you know, those old fashioned cd thingys) MOS annual are a dieing breed.
The MTV generation is dead.
The Y generation use forums, find new music on myspace, download music legally from itunes and beatport or illegally from limewire, soulseek etc. we look up charts by our favourite artists. online we can "click" an artist who did an obscure remix on a big name MOS track and learn more, cant do that in a dolly mag.
were better informed with more choice and more places to learn and expand our knowledge and find the and interesting things than ever before.
no longer is it "that techno shit" but one of perhaps 50 (?) different subgenres of electronic music.
More and more young people commonly know that every radio station plays the same old music, plus thier charts are too slow, plus the music channels on tv play the same stuff all day too, they bore quickly and leave the radio on less than previous generations because thier aware of real choice, playing cds - ipods etc , increasingly affordable pieces of technology for the everyman and average boring workplace.
( although i think if someone had the balls to invest in broadcasting Kiss FM from melbourne up here, theyd make a FORTUNE $$$$ )
i know that, in a few years, when i turn up to a club to dj with my usb stick in pocket ready to plug into the mp3j projection unit, i wont have to fear these misinformed older generation stereotypes
because real choice is the ultimate gift of the information age
look forward to better requests in coming years
p.s. whats your dj name mate? been meaning to get to favela for ages
they have fantastic lineups
but seriously... there was a time.. when MTV and Ministry Of Sound were leaders of cool... (in order)
and ultimately i believe it was because at the time, television was the fastest form of media we had...
these were the days of the x generation, where we were still told what was cool, and big companies would get something underground... like skateboarding... slap a sony phone in tony hawks hands.. and whammo he was cool... and maybe i can be cool too! arguably this has been around for years n years but the x generation imo is the end of this vicious cycle of vanity
now we have a new form
teh internetsblogs are a reliable and feared measure of cool and news the world over, coroporations annually now spend billions trying to get press packs ready for sites like www.gizmodo.com ... a news story cracks i can get it on a blog from south east turkmenistan via google news instantly on my mobile phone... with tv i have till wait till 5'oclock and even then its only one opinion/side/stance and i cant research further.
tv is old, slow and dead. same for magazines. same for cds.
keep the pace or fall behind.
the internet is now breeding what many statisticians refer to as the y generation, and i easily and proudly identify myself with this genus. were notoriously bad news for marketers, because we dont buy into hype like the x gen, if a new phone comes out we read reviews online for a couple hours, ask friends online, look at photos etc, before making a decision, and then we check sale price checks like www.staticice.com for the cheapest price or even ebay, this is annoying the fuck out of the large department stores like david jones etc, where the only good service they can deliver now is a respectable warranty. gen y is a legitamate theory being taught and lectured on globally at various business schools, and the news is stay clear, keep to young children who still dont know better or the older gens, theres been a lot of interesting news stories on gen y lately
and in regard to this conversation, the y generation is better musically trained. fear not ant, for those dumb blondes asking for last years polycarbonate disc (you know, those old fashioned cd thingys) MOS annual are a dieing breed.
The MTV generation is dead.
The Y generation use forums, find new music on myspace, download music legally from itunes and beatport or illegally from limewire, soulseek etc. we look up charts by our favourite artists. online we can "click" an artist who did an obscure remix on a big name MOS track and learn more, cant do that in a dolly mag.
were better informed with more choice and more places to learn and expand our knowledge and find the and interesting things than ever before.
no longer is it "that techno shit" but one of perhaps 50 (?) different subgenres of electronic music.
More and more young people commonly know that every radio station plays the same old music, plus thier charts are too slow, plus the music channels on tv play the same stuff all day too, they bore quickly and leave the radio on less than previous generations because thier aware of real choice, playing cds - ipods etc , increasingly affordable pieces of technology for the everyman and average boring workplace.
( although i think if someone had the balls to invest in broadcasting Kiss FM from melbourne up here, theyd make a FORTUNE $$$$ )
i know that, in a few years, when i turn up to a club to dj with my usb stick in pocket ready to plug into the mp3j projection unit, i wont have to fear these misinformed older generation stereotypes
because real choice is the ultimate gift of the information age
look forward to better requests in coming years
p.s. whats your dj name mate? been meaning to get to favela for ages
they have fantastic lineups
#7
Posted 22 August 2007 - 01:47 AM
-
- Members
-
- 75 posts
Local
You make some excellent points there. I just can't wait until the effect of it all ripples through to the ksubi crowd at Lux! haha
I have been DJing under the alias AntmaN, but that is all about to change. Now that I'm playing and producing big room prog, I've begun to feel like I've outgrown that moniker. It has too many ties to the whole electro phase now. I'm finishing up a whole batch of new tracks, so the plan is to do the name change when I decide the new stuff's fit to unleash (very soon).
The tattoo will stay though...lol
I have been DJing under the alias AntmaN, but that is all about to change. Now that I'm playing and producing big room prog, I've begun to feel like I've outgrown that moniker. It has too many ties to the whole electro phase now. I'm finishing up a whole batch of new tracks, so the plan is to do the name change when I decide the new stuff's fit to unleash (very soon).
The tattoo will stay though...lol
#8
Posted 22 August 2007 - 01:49 AM
-
- Members
-
- 75 posts
Local
Ps. Any time you want to come down and check Favela out (without worrying about the line ) just PM me names.
) just PM me names.
#9
Posted 22 August 2007 - 11:51 AM
-
- Members
-
- 1,179 posts
SoundPunk Veteran
You're a clever and funny fella Donnie. And it appears our new mate ant is quite the gentleman!
I love this place! SP >>>> ITM
I love this place! SP >>>> ITM
#10
Guest_Donnie Darko_*
Posted 22 August 2007 - 12:39 PM
Guest_Donnie Darko_*
-
- Guests
hehe cheers fellas
ant, id love to hear a demo mate
you head to sweetchilli events much? much love for them
also, come down to the next subservice if youre free ( and bring a demo ! ) would love the support
im on the door for a while, its a relitvely underground, monthly, that my friends have had a few of now, i love the night and thier motives / general music policy so i try and support it when i can
- zac
ant, id love to hear a demo mate
you head to sweetchilli events much? much love for them
also, come down to the next subservice if youre free ( and bring a demo ! ) would love the support
im on the door for a while, its a relitvely underground, monthly, that my friends have had a few of now, i love the night and thier motives / general music policy so i try and support it when i can
- zac
#11
Posted 22 August 2007 - 04:48 PM
-
- Members
-
- 75 posts
Local
Bread & Butter, Sweet Chilli & Subservice were closely looked at by us before we set the parameters of what our Life party was going to be. The fact that these three nights existed were an inspiration to us. We spent a few nights doing some serious chinstroking up the back at all 3 haha.
Mainly, we wanted to complement what was going on in that part of the scene rather than compete. A healthy underground scene is good for all of us, but competition in a niche = death to all but one (usually).
I'll find the appropriate section and post up a mix.
Mainly, we wanted to complement what was going on in that part of the scene rather than compete. A healthy underground scene is good for all of us, but competition in a niche = death to all but one (usually).
I'll find the appropriate section and post up a mix.
#12
Posted 22 August 2007 - 04:54 PM
-
- Members
-
- 1,855 posts
VIP Member
- LocationEarth
Welcome Ant - great thread!
I feel the sameway man, so it's not a one-off. After doin commercial rooms for the last lifetime, I've given up with requests.
Had a chick on sat nite come up asking for JT or someshite, I start yellin @ her- told her to go home and listen to the radio if she wanted to hear that, BUT, if she wanted to hear some good music while drinkin with mates then she should shutup, go back to the bar and let me get my groove on.
She left 2 hours later waving thanks.
Mind you, that only ever happens once in a blue moon. Most of em whinge to their mates and the whole fuckin lot come over one at a time and have a go @ ya....
I feel the sameway man, so it's not a one-off. After doin commercial rooms for the last lifetime, I've given up with requests.
Had a chick on sat nite come up asking for JT or someshite, I start yellin @ her- told her to go home and listen to the radio if she wanted to hear that, BUT, if she wanted to hear some good music while drinkin with mates then she should shutup, go back to the bar and let me get my groove on.
She left 2 hours later waving thanks.
Mind you, that only ever happens once in a blue moon. Most of em whinge to their mates and the whole fuckin lot come over one at a time and have a go @ ya....
#13
Posted 22 August 2007 - 05:19 PM
-
- Members
-
- 75 posts
Local
Progressive house in Sydney
This was taken last Friday at Life @ Favela. Cheese free zone! :cans:
[img width=750 height=1000]http://i72.photobuck...AtFavela003.jpg[/img]
[img width=750 height=562]http://i72.photobuck...AtFavela052.jpg[/img]
This was taken last Friday at Life @ Favela. Cheese free zone! :cans:
[img width=750 height=1000]http://i72.photobuck...AtFavela003.jpg[/img]
[img width=750 height=562]http://i72.photobuck...AtFavela052.jpg[/img]
#14
Posted 22 August 2007 - 05:55 PM
-
- Members
-
- 1,179 posts
SoundPunk Veteran
Looks awesome man. Great work!
#15
Posted 22 August 2007 - 06:05 PM
-
- Members
-
- 705 posts
SoundPunk Veteran
I agree with most in this thread and especially Zac's comment as it really captures what is happening at the moment in all scenes and walks of life.
The bogan request gene is born into all generations in Newcastle however, though things are getting better each year. Though i don't know that i will see a massive resurgence in the popularity of Prog styles, which is what i would love. But due to a severe lack of venues and this sheep like "can you play ministry of sound sessions disc 2 track 8" mentality, i dont see it happening in the near future.
So for now i will come down to the big smoke when i can and go along to the events i can (been hanging to check Favela and Life) and party like its 1999.
The bogan request gene is born into all generations in Newcastle however, though things are getting better each year. Though i don't know that i will see a massive resurgence in the popularity of Prog styles, which is what i would love. But due to a severe lack of venues and this sheep like "can you play ministry of sound sessions disc 2 track 8" mentality, i dont see it happening in the near future.
So for now i will come down to the big smoke when i can and go along to the events i can (been hanging to check Favela and Life) and party like its 1999.
#16
Guest_Donnie Darko_*
Posted 22 August 2007 - 08:27 PM
Guest_Donnie Darko_*
-
- Guests
fark, wish we got real club turnout like that, were doing the best we can in the civic which has more or less zero walkby.. just trying to build up a regular fanbase through commTSWDNSOent to quality really ..
and yeah, everyone in the "underground" supports harmony
i looked for an awesome packed to the rafters sea of gurn pic complete with buxom babes..
but all i could fine was this one of me on the left trying to look as intelligent as possible
and yeah, everyone in the "underground" supports harmony
i looked for an awesome packed to the rafters sea of gurn pic complete with buxom babes..
but all i could fine was this one of me on the left trying to look as intelligent as possible
#18
Posted 22 August 2007 - 09:11 PM
-
- Global Moderators
-
- 2,212 posts
Sound Cunt Extraordinaire
- LocationInside the Anus of a Flying Walrus
i know, i ;D as well!
Zac - that pic definately raises you about 20 IQ points. Judging by the surrounding facial expressions, you may not score a root from doing it too often... unless i'm around
Zac - that pic definately raises you about 20 IQ points. Judging by the surrounding facial expressions, you may not score a root from doing it too often... unless i'm around
#19
Posted 22 August 2007 - 10:59 PM
-
- Members
-
- 41 posts
Local
I kinda feel for you in this situation, I remember playing at down at perisher aoutnd 97, 98 and would actually be happy if someone request faithless instead of barnsey.
At the time Big Beat was large and dropping those old funk samples would keep the masses happy cause they kinda felt like they knew it... but didn't.
don't know what the actual punters are like down south, but up at brissy I would say at the moment it is attack of the bland. It's full of all these people from the suburbs that where listening to shannon nole last year and now think there clubbers and they all want to dress like each other....rather nasty to view a homogenised crowd and again, think MOS is the fucking bible. The is a distinct lack of venue's here for underground music to be played. And by underground, I could be referring to anything that doesn't fall under the electro house moniker. All a bit ghey.
At the time Big Beat was large and dropping those old funk samples would keep the masses happy cause they kinda felt like they knew it... but didn't.
don't know what the actual punters are like down south, but up at brissy I would say at the moment it is attack of the bland. It's full of all these people from the suburbs that where listening to shannon nole last year and now think there clubbers and they all want to dress like each other....rather nasty to view a homogenised crowd and again, think MOS is the fucking bible. The is a distinct lack of venue's here for underground music to be played. And by underground, I could be referring to anything that doesn't fall under the electro house moniker. All a bit ghey.
#20
Posted 23 August 2007 - 11:45 AM
-
- Members
-
- 1,179 posts
SoundPunk Veteran
Hey Ajent X, welcome aboard!
I know exactly what you're sayin about Brissie. A night on the town sort of resembles a bad night in St Kilda down here in Melbs with all the fluoro kids with the massive writing t-shirts spewing outta Monastery - and that's not even the worst.
But there ARE good crews up there - we come and play with the Drop and Elements crews who have their fingers on the pulse. And there's also the Liquid Bass guys when they put together a party it tends to be the technoier side of awesome. Fear not - it's just gonna take a decent dig to find it but it's out there!
I know exactly what you're sayin about Brissie. A night on the town sort of resembles a bad night in St Kilda down here in Melbs with all the fluoro kids with the massive writing t-shirts spewing outta Monastery - and that's not even the worst.
But there ARE good crews up there - we come and play with the Drop and Elements crews who have their fingers on the pulse. And there's also the Liquid Bass guys when they put together a party it tends to be the technoier side of awesome. Fear not - it's just gonna take a decent dig to find it but it's out there!
1 user(s) are reading this topic
0 members, 1 guests, 0 anonymous users
